Building links to your site is not easy. And it’s not fun either.
Especially when it comes to getting the right links for your site. Links from diverse, unique, high domain authority sites that really move the needle.
These links can skyrocket your traffic, off-page SEO, and rankings.
And that’s why it’s nearly impossible to get.
Getting the same old links from the same old crap directories with the same old tactics will not yield any profitable results.
Not in today’s fierce and oversaturated world.
Thankfully, there are some proven ways to get the right links with less effort than tedious link building campaigns or yet another cold email outreach process.
Here are three of the easiest ways to build better quality backlinks as quickly as possible.
Types of Links to Watch and Why (Based on Data)
In 2016, Google hosted a Q&A hosted by a Senior Search Quality Strategist named Andrei Lipatsev.
The data Lipattsev gave us is one of the only clear answers Google has given us about the top ranking factors.
In summary, according to Lipattsev, the top two ranking factors are links and content.
In no particular order. What more could you expect from Google?
Basically, if you want better rankings, you need better content and more/better links.
The tricky part is catch 22 in link building. Often you won’t get more/better links until your content is improved.
Otherwise, it will be difficult to think, plan, and grow how to improve your links.
This is backed up by a Backlinko study that examined 1 million search engine result pages to identify the factors that most influenced rankings.
Key findings include:
- Top content (1-10 on SERPs) had more links.The #1 post for a given Google search had more links much more. Meaning they dominated the competition in backlinks.
- It’s not just the total number of links that matters. The top posts contained links from hundreds of diverse websites. In other words, just because you get a link from one site, you can’t call it a closed deal.
- High Domain Authority (DA) sites are the best links you can get. Top posts had the highest DA-based links. If you want to rank, you need a link from a higher ranking dog.
In summary, you should hit three main factors when looking for links:
- amount.
- quality.
- Diversity.
Still skeptical? Go to Google and run a number of searches on random industry keywords such as “content marketing guide”.
Let’s see how links affect these two specific rankings.
Their content is almost the same. Both are long and detailed. We speak many, many, many languages. Also beautiful painting and design.
It means links are one of the only ranking factors left to check out.
First, drop the top ranking post by Moz and plug it into Open Site Explorer to view your backlink profile.
It looks like this:
About 10,000 backlinks spread across 95 different domains.
Then check the second.
967 links spread over 372.
Repeat this for any search and you’ll probably (most of the time) find the same pattern.
If you take a closer look at each backlink profile, you’ll quickly notice other patterns of different sources and quality DA sites.
Clearly, these data points are not exhaustive. But there are many of them. They will tell you everything you need to know.
Quantity, quality and variety drive results.
The only problem is figuring out how and where to get these kinds of links.
1. Guest blogging for brand awareness
Over the last few years, guest blogging has come under attack. This year was no exception (see: Google Issues Warning About Guest Posting on Build Links).
In 2014 Google made it clear that guest blogs are a good thing, but guest blogs that are only for links and SEO are not.
Those who have followed the information already know that it is a hotly debated topic.
That said, guest blogging shouldn’t be focused solely on link building. In other words, your main goal shouldn’t just be spamming guest posts to get fast links on every site.
Instead, you should use it as an opportunity to post content that builds brand awareness, builds credibility, and increases quality traffic at the same time.
So how can you start a guest blog to increase brand awareness when you’re not connected?
It’s easy.
Go to Google and search using the following parameters:
site:www.searchenginejournal.com (or whatever target site) + guest blog (or guest post or write)
This simple search will quickly return pages on specific sites that describe guest blogging and how to apply.
Repeat this process on almost any industry site and you’ll get results.
Most sites have guest posting opportunities on their blogs. So instead of going to each site and scrutinizing footers and headers, just use parameters.
We don’t do SEO just for SEO’s sake.
The point is to generate an ROI. And study after study proves that people buy from people they know (or feel they know).
Oh, yes. Must be a guest post. No matter what Google says.
Because in return you get something even more important than sweet backlinks: profits.
2. Increase brand mentions
The best way to get more mentions and links to your brand is to post better content.
But it’s not a standard blog post. Even a long post about SEO tips doesn’t work.
Those topics are too saturated. They don’t change people’s lives. They don’t change their worldview.
Why do certain posts get tons of links and accolades over the years? They were monumental in the industry.
They have greatly influenced the daily lives of SEO professionals. One of his perfect examples includes his own large-scale studies backed by data.
Drift recently conducted a study that puts their business to work to uncover form and live chat data.
We got links from sites like Neil Patel and CMI. Also, when searching for forms on Google, mentions of Drift now appear routinely.
Groupon provided another similar example of this tactic when it risked its own profits to uncover dark traffic.
A Google search for “Groupon dark traffic” brings up thousands of results that mention the brand.
content is It literally changes the game.
Do you have a case study using an “out of the box” method to get results? Did you uncover new data not known otherwise? Share it with the world.
So what if there’s a mention of a new brand?
First, you’ll notice that the mass mentions don’t have links.
Then contact these sites and ask them to include links where your brand is mentioned.
They’ve already mentioned you, so they’ll have no problem giving you the link.
That’s not the hard part. The hard part is getting someone to talk about you in the first place.
3. Mention influencers in your content
you all know and love (dislike) Summary of influencers.
They usually look a little like this:
They often collect tons of information from dozens of influencers.
They usually refer to popular influencers, so it’s no wonder they generate links.
why? Because they first give links and brand mentions to each expert involved:
And we all know that reciprocation is important when it comes to anything in life.
If you only take (rather than give), you probably won’t get very far in life.
These posts often get links from most people mentioned.
If you don’t believe me, check out the backlink profile for this post.
This is many links (from many domains) to one post. Examining each link, you can quickly see that many people mentioned in the post link to it.
why? Free promotion for involved professionals. By linking to your site, you can drive more traffic to that page.
In doing so, they have shown themselves as industry experts and further cemented that image in the minds of their customers.
Need more links? Write a wrap-up post featuring the experts.
For example, see how Aaron Orendorff used Roundup-style posts to reach out to influencers, mention them, and secure links.
A good way to let influencers know about new content that incorporates their opinions is by mentioning it on social media.
Like Aaron’s 4,234-word guide featuring 9 B2B ecommerce trends, if your content is top-notch, you can expect links from the influencers mentioned.
Conclusion
You probably don’t want just the link.
There is enough low value junk pointing to your site.
Instead, you want something suitable. You want something that is legal and hard to reach. Intangible benefits like branding and credibility ultimately lead to increased sales.
A guest blog is one of the best (and easiest) ways to get started, no matter what Google threatens to do. Second, generate more brand mentions with atypical content.
something that stands out. Something really remarkable (not just saying it is).
We talk about revolutionary content in the industry, like Groupon’s Dark Traffic Survey and Drift’s Year without Forms.
Finally, try mentioning influencers in your content.
Sure, it’s cheap. It’s easy. But it is also effective.
It puts you on more people’s radar. Helps spread attention and love. This also helps drive new revenue.
More link building resources here:
image credit
Featured Image: Klimkin/Pixabay.com
Screenshot by Brad Smith. Taken October 2017.
